Journal of the

Native Orchid Society of

South Australia Inc Print Post Approved .Volume 35 Nº 5 PP 543662/00018 June 2011

NATIVE ORCHID SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA PO BOX 565 UNLEY SA 5061

www.nossa.org.au.

The Native Orchid Society of South Australia promotes the conservation of orchids through the preservation of natural habitat and through cultivation. Except with the documented official representation of the management committee, no person may represent the Society on any matter. All native orchids are protected in the wild; their collection without written Government permit is illegal. PRESIDENT SECRETARY Bill Dear: Robert Lawrence Telephone 82962111 - mob. 0413 659 506 Email: nossaorchids@hotmail.com VICE PRESIDENT Kris Kopicki COMMITTEE Bob Bates Cathy Houston Jan Adams Geoffrey Borg EDITOR TREASURER David Hirst Marj Sheppard 14 Beaverdale Avenue Telephone 8344 2124 Windsor Gardens SA 5087 mob. 0419 189 118 Telephone 8261 7998 Email: david.hirst2@bigpond.com LIFE MEMBERS Mr R. Hargreaves† Mr. L. Nesbitt Mr H. Goldsack† Mr G. Carne Mr R. Robjohns† Mr R Bates Mr J. Simmons† Mr R Shooter Mr D. Wells† Mr W Dear Conservation Officer: Cathy Houston telephone 8356 7356; Email: cathyhn@tpg.com.au Field Trips Coordinator: Bob Bates 82515251 or 0402 291 904 or bobbates63@hotmail.com Trading Table: Judy Penney Show Marshall: B Jensen Registrar of Judges: Les Nesbitt Tuber bank Coordinator: Jane Higgs ph. 8558 6247; email: jhiggs@activ8.net.au New Members Coordinator: Vacant (Bill Dear ph: 82962111 mob.: 0413 659 506)

PATRON Mr L. Nesbitt The Native Orchid Society of South Australia, while taking all due care, take no responsibility for loss or damage to any plants whether at shows, meetings or exhibits. Views or opinions expressed by authors of articles within this Journal do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the management committee. We condone the reprint of any articles if acknowledgment is given

Journal Cost $2. per issue. Family or Single Membership with subscription $20.00* *Postal Mail full year $20.00. Email full year $15.00.

Pro-rata rates for third quarter $10.00 and last quarter $5.00 Students $10.00 per year. Juniors $5.00

Front cover from an original drawing of Microtis arenaria by Robert Lawrence. Used with his kind permission.

JOURNAL OF THE NATIVE ORCHID SOCIETY

OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC.

JUNE 2011 VOL. 35 NO 5

CONTENTS THIS JOURNAL

Title Author Page Diary Dates 41 March Meeting 42 April Meeting 42 May Meeting 43 For Your Information – NOSSA News 33 The Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack 46 Photo Competition Reminder Geoff Borg 46 DVD Cover Competition Marj. Sheppard 47 Murray Mallee Midges: Autumn 2011 R.J. Bates 49

The Native Orchid Society of South Australia meets every 4th Tuesday of the months February -November

NEXT MEETING 28 JUNE 2011

Tuesday, 28 June, St Matthew's Hall, Bridge Street, Kensington. Meeting starts at 8:00 p.m. Doors to the hall will be open from 7:15 p.m. to allow Members access to the Library and trading table. The Speaker for the June meeting will be Richard Fishlock on the subject ‘Virus in Orchids, how to recognize it and how to prevent it spreading’. Richard leads the virus advisory group at The Orchid Club of SA and has over the years built up a dossier on virus symptoms and virus test reports. As all plants, including natives, can be infected with virus, this subject is of vital interest to everyone who handles plants.

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING

Tues, 5th July. Meeting commences at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Robert and Rosalie Lawrence, Camden Park.

DIARY DATES

Saturday 23 July Myponga & Nixon Skinner CP Sunday 14 August Mt Crawford for Helmet orchids

Judging results MARCH meeting Epiphytes benched Cymbidium canaliculatum; Dendrobium Anne‟s Rainbow Surprise; Dendrobium schneiderae; Dendrobium bigibbum; Dendrobium lithocola (6 plants); Dendrobium unknown; Dockrillia cucumerina; Dockrillia bowmanii. Terrestrials benched Diplodium ophioglossum; Eriochilus cucullatus; Eriochilus dilitatus; Genoplesium rufum. Judging results Epiphyte hybrid Open division Grower 1st Dendrobium unknown J & B Gay No 2nd or 3rd Epiphyte species Open division 1st Dendrobium schneiderae Bodo Jensen 2nd Dendrobium lithacola Bodo Jensen 3rd Cymbidium canaliculatum Alan Jennings Epiphytes Hybrid 2nd division 1st Sarcochilus Velvet „Chocolate‟ Kris Kopicki No 2nd or 3rd Epiphyte species 2nd division 1st Dockrillia cucumerina Bill Dear 2nd Dendrobium bigibbum Kris Kopicki Terrestrial species Open division 1st Diplodium ophioglossum L Burgess 2nd Genoplesium rufum L. Nesbitt No 3rd Popular vote results Terrestrial species Open division Genoplesium rufum L. Nesbitt Epiphyte species open division Dendrobium schneiderae Bodo Jensen Epiphyte hybrid open division Dendrobium unknown J & B Gay Epiphyte hybrid 2nd division Sarcochilus Velvet „Chocolate‟ Kris Kopicki Epiphyte species 2nd division Dendrobium bigibbum Kris Kopicki Plant of the night Dockrillia cucumerina Bill Dear Plant commentary on terrestrials given by Les Burgess & on epiphytes by Reg Shooter

Judging results APRIL meeting

Epiphytes benched Dendrobium Anne‟s Rainbow Surprise; Den schneiderae; Den lithocola (6 plants); Dockrillia bowmanii. Terrestrials benched Diplodium abruptum; Diplodium laxum (2 plants); Diplodium obtusum; Diplodium ophioglossum; Diplodium truncatum; Eriochilus cucullatus; Taurantha x Furcillata.

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Judging results Epiphyte hybrid Open division Grower 1st Dendrobium Anne‟s Rainbow Surprise J & B Gay No 2nd or 3rd Epiphyte species Open division 1st Dockrillia bowmanii J Dunne 2nd Dendrobium lithacola Bodo Jensen 3rd Dendrobium lithacola Bodo Jensen No epiphytes in 2nd div Terrestrial hybrids Open division 1st Taurantha X Furcillata M & L Guy No 2nd or 3rd Terrestrial species Open division 1st Diplodium ophioglossum M & L Guy 2nd Diplodium abruptum D & J Higgs 3rd Diplodium laxum J Dunne Terrestrial species 2nd division 1st Eriochilus cucullatus Bill Dear 2nd Diplodium arumfolium Janet Adams No 3rd terrestrial species & No 2nd division terrestrial hybrids Popular vote results Terrestrial species Open division Diplodium abruptum D & J Higgs Terrestrial hybrid Open division Taurantha x Furcillata M & L Guy Terrestrial species 2nd division Eriochilus cucullatus Bill Dear Epiphyte species open division Dockrillia bowmanii J Dunne Epiphyte hybrid open division Dendrobium Anne‟s Rainbow Surprise J & B Gay Plant of the night Dockrillia bowmanii J Dunne Plant commentary on terrestrials given by Malcolm Guy & on epiphytes by Reg Shooter

Judging results MAY meeting Epiphytes benched Bulbophyllum exigguum; Bulbophyllum wenthalii; Dendrobium bigibbum (5 plants); Dendrobium Hilda Poxon (2 plants); Dendrobium Jesmond Sparkler; Dendrobium monophyllum; Dendrobium (Superbum x Snowdrop); Dockrillia wassellii; Sarcochilus (Starstruck x Velvet); Sarcochilus Velvet „Chocolate. Terrestrials benched Acianthus pusillus (3 plants, 1 green form); Diplodium doliochilum; Diplodium laxum; Diplodium ophioglossum; Diplodium truncatum; Eriochilus cucullatus; Pterostylis x Toveyana.

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Judging results Epiphyte hybrid Open division Grower 1st Dendrobium Hilda Poxon B Jensen 2nd Sarcochilus (Starstruck x Velvet) W & S Walloscheck No 3rd Epiphyte species Open division 1st Dockrillia wassellii N Oliver 2nd Dendrobium biggibum (white) Bodo Jensen 3rd Dendrobium (Superbum x Snowdrop) Bodo Jensen Epiphytes Species 2nd division 1st Bulbophyllum wenthalii Kris Kopicki 2nd Bulbophyllum exigguum Kris Kopicki No 3rd Epiphytes Hybrids 2nd division 1st Dendrobium Hilda Poxon R Hauese 2nd Dendrobium Jesmond Sparkler R Hauese 3rd Sarcochilus Velvet „Chocolate Kris Kopicki Terrestrial hybrids Open division 1st Pterostylis x Toveyana M & L Guy No 2nd or 3rd

Terrestrial species Open division 1st Diplodium laxum L Nesbitt 2nd Acianthus pusillus M & L Guy 3rd Acianthus pusillus L Nesbitt Terrestrial species 2nd division 1st Diplodium doliochilum Kris Kopicki No 2nd or 3rd Popular vote results Terrestrial species Open division Diplodium laxum L Nesbitt Terrestrial Hybrid Open division Pterostylis x Toveyana M & L Guy Terrestrial Species 2nd division (No 2nd division terrestrial hybrids) Diplodium doliochilum Kris Kopicki Epiphyte Species open division Dockrillia wassellii N Oliver Epiphyte Hybrid open division Sarcochilus (Starstruck x Velvet) W & S Walloscheck Epiphyte Species 2nd division Bulbophyllum wenthalii Kris Kopicki Epiphyte Hybrid 2nd division Sarcochilus Velvet „Chocolate‟ Kris Kopicki Plant of the night Dockrillia wassellii N Oliver Plant commentary on terrestrials given by Malcolm Guy & on epiphytes by Noel Oliver

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May Speaker Pamela Rajkowski gave an interesting talk on the history of camel men in Australia. They were used in exploration of inland Australia in the 1860s, including by Bourke and Wills. The use of camels for transport was linked to the economic development of South Australia in particular. Thomas Elder was recognised for his role in promoting their use. The camel men, some of whom were Afghans, were brought to Australia for three years, but many stayed and started their own business. By 1896 there were about a thousand camel men in Australia, but from then on railways began to replace them. Now we are left with the camels in the outback and insufficient market to control them.

FIELD TRIPS

Saturday 23 July Myponga & Nixon Skinner. Meet 10:00am at the Myponga shops. We will visit Nixon Skinner Conservation Park in the morning and then go on to a private property for the afternoon. We will be looking at winter greenhoods and various helmet orchids. Bring warm clothes Enquiries Cathy Houston.

August trips. Cromer CP and Mt Crawford for Helmet orchids Aug 14th Sunday, meet Williamstown under big gum opposite shop at 10 am. Late August trip to Monarto area. See later journal Enquiries to Bob Bates. NB: Please check the NOSSA website for any changes to field trip schedules. www.nossa.org.au

Vale Park Our Patch Recently (Saturday 4th June) a Wildflower Walk along a re-vegetated grassy woodland at Willow Bend Reserve (River Torrens Linear Park) at Vale Park was held by VPOP‟s Community Open Day along with a free BBQ lunch. Over 100 different native flora species are now present there including lilies and orchids. Orchids include Caladenia latifolia both white & pink forms, Cal. tentaculata, Diuris behrii, D. orientis (SA form and yellow form); D. x pardinia hybrid, Diplodium robustum, Pterostylis curta, P. nana, P. nutans, P. pedunculata, Thelymitra nuda, T. macmillani, T. luteocilium and Microtis unifolia. There are photographic plant labels, a pictorial Biodiversity Board and Biodiversity Believe it or not cards. You can even plant your own orchid or native wildflower by phoning Heather on 0409 916 644 or 8344 2053.

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FOR YOUR INFORMATION - NOSSA NEWS

NEXT JUDGES MEETING July Saturday 2nd at Les Nesbitt‟s, 18 Cambridge St Vale Park commencing at 9:30.

Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint File Formats

For those who are unable to open some Microsoft files they receive via email or otherwise. If you are running an earlier version of MS Word, Excel or Powerpoint than version 2007 it is important that you download and install the Compatibility Pack. See below. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en and select “Download details: Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word ...” By installing the Compatibility Pack in addition to Microsoft Office 2000, Office XP, or Office 2003, you will be able to open, edit, and save files using the file formats in newer versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint . The Compatibility Pack can also be used in conjunction with the Microsoft Office Word Viewer 2003, Excel Viewer 2003, and PowerPoint Viewer 2003 to view files saved in these new formats. For more information about the Compatibility Pack, see 924074. Update: The Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack has been updated to include SP2. Additionally, with the updated Compatibility Pack, if .DOCX or .DOCM files contain custom XML tags, those tags are removed when the file is opened in Word 2003. For more information, please see KB978951 To install this download: Ensure your system is up to date by installing all High-Priority/Required updates on Microsoft Update (required for Microsoft Office XP and 2003 users). After installing all High-Priority/Required updates with Microsoft Update, download the Compatibility Pack by clicking the Download button above and saving the file to your hard disk. Double-click the FileFormatConverters.exe program file on your hard disk to start the setup program. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.

PHOTO COMPETITION Reminder

NOSSA Common Orchids of South Australia Brochure (by Geoff Borg)

You will recall in the May NOSSA Journal that all NOSSA members are invited and encouraged to submit their photos of the 20 Common Native Orchids of South Australia for the chance to be included in a brochure of the same name. Please remember you have until the 5:00 PM (Adelaide time) 5th July 2011 to submit your entries.

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ARTICLES / ITEMS FOR NEXT JOURNAL

Articles / items for the July journal need to reach the Editor by Friday July 8th.

NOSSA Monthly Orchid Picture Competition – May Meeting Results (by Geoff Borg)

NOSSA‟s May General Meeting saw the inaugural popular vote Orchid Picture Competition. Ten pictures were displayed, which was a great start, including one drawing, one creative photo montage (?) created using Photoshop, and the rest photos. This competition is open to all NOSSA members and entries can include a picture in any media of an Australian Native Orchids created by a NOSSA member. If you need help getting your picture to the meeting you can post or e-mail it to the NOSSA Secretary before the meeting and we will make sure the image is displayed for the popular vote competition.

The results of the popular vote for the May meeting were: 1. Robert Lawrence with a photo of Diuris Orientis 2. A tie between – Cathy Houston with a photo of Thelymitra cyanea and Marj Sheppard with a drawing of Plumatichilas species

We look forward to seeing your entries at the June General Meeting. DVD COVER COMPETITION Marj. Sheppard

(Address any queries to Marj Sheppard; nossatreasurer@hotmail.com) The DVD Production Sub-Committee is working hard to meet deadlines to produce the DVD “South Australia‟s Native Orchids R. J. Bates 2011” The Project will not have the impact it deserves without a printed disc cover which is striking and draws attention to the beauty of the orchids described on the DVD. Once again, the Sub-Committee is asking for your help. Competition entries are sought to ensure that the artists among our members and their families can show their creative side. This is your chance to make sure our final product is one we will all be proud of. We want it to be a fitting tribute to all the work Bob has produced over the years. To help get the creative juices started, attached are some examples which were prepared by the Lawrence family for consideration when the choice of the cover for the current DVD was made. I‟ve put two in too, just to show it can be done by anyone! No doubt you will have preferences because of your „artistic eye‟. There are no restrictions of colour or images to be used (any orchids used must be South Australian) and can include drawings (line or other). Entries will need to take account of these parameters: Entries may be hand drawn. Not everyone has the software to produce an electronic entry. Entries can be converted to electronic for you. Size and shape: o Finished size outer diameter 119mm, internal diameter 21mm and circular. o (You may wish to work with twice this size, but the final submission must be as above.)

Text to be included: o „South Australia‟s Native Orchids‟ o R. J. Bates 2011 o NOSSA symbol (THIS WILL BE ADDED LATER - JUST LEAVE A SPACE) o symbol or words DVD-ROM o www.nossa.org.au

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SUBMIT ENTRIES WITH NAME & CONTACT DETAILS TO: General Meeting 23 August 2011 OR ... e-mail to nossa.treasurer@hotmail.com

Entries will be received from Members or their families. Family members are encouraged to enter (grandchildren especially).

The competition will be judged by Cathy Veide, Artist and Convenor of the Friends of the Botanical Gardens Art Group.

The final decision will rest with the Executive and Sub-editing Committee and will be non negotiable.

Good luck and good designing! ENTRIES CLOSE August General Meeting – 23 August 2011

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Murray Mallee Midges: Autumn 2011 R.J. Bates The title of this article refers of course to mallee midge orchids of the genus Corunastylis which have been poorly understood. Summer and Autumn 2011 saw good rains across the Murray Mallee from Pinnaroo to Renmark and thus NOSSA members took the opportunity to study mallee midge orchids in flower in March and April. The results are summarised here. Aims: 1 To match species to habitat. 2 To assess the distribution and population of each species. 3 To take images of all species. Midges were found all the way up to Chowilla sand hills, which are just north of the River Murray. Almost every patch of mallee eucalypts seemed to have some Corunastylis species but an understanding of their ecology was needed to find the flowers. Degraded or weedy mallee did not have any midge orchids, nor was hard clay, loose white sand, bare trampled soil or dense ground cover worth searching as midges are very small plants and easily crushed, covered up or sand blasted. Flowering plants were found mostly in the leaf litter under mature mallee, often with associated patches of native pine or circles of Triodia sp. (porcupine grass). Areas with extra water run-off and disturbed soil along road corridors seemed to

have produced localised population explosions. A 4WD vehicle proved handy for reaching remote corners of larger parks like Billiat Conservation Park near Alawoona. The most common species was the red and green flowered mallee midge Corunastylis tepperi while the similar but purplish Corunastylis sp. Intermediate came in second. Next came the black midge orchid C. nigricans which seemed to have finished in early March and were found mostly in capsule. Species of the Corunastylis rufa complex were mostly found in the southern fringes of the mallee. Their classification is ambiguous seeing Australian orchid expert D.L. Jones says Corunastylis rufa is confined to NSW. The un-named species of the complex seen included Corunastylis sp. „Dark midge‟ and Corunastylis sp. „Narrow segments‟. In any case, no fringed labellum species of any kind were observed, so all mallee midges belong to the C. nigricans and C. rufa complexes. Tiny fruit flies of several species were seen working the flowers but we could not tell if each midge orchid attracted a different

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Corunastylis sp. Box Flat, Ngarkat Conservation Park

Photo by June Niejalke

Corunastylis tepperi, Alawoona

Photo by Rob Bates

fly as the flies are too small to compare! I suspected that specificity of pollinators is low as apparent hybrid midge orchids were noted. Recognising the different mallee midge orchids:

1 If the flowers are bright green and the labellum is rounded, deep purple or maroon then it will be C. tepperi, also known as C. fuscoviride. The latter is a better name as it means bright dark and green. C. tepperi has a narrow spike of many tiny flowers. The finished flowers and capsules will take on a yellowish look.

2 If the labellum is rounded and the flowers are mottled brown to wholly purple-brown, except for white or white striped petals, the species is C. sp. Intermediate. DNA studies may be required to check the species limits of the many taxa found. It is doubtful that such a good display will be found next autumn! Many thanks to NOSSA members who sent me images of mallee midges recently, especially June Niejalke. Note: good collections of mallee midge orchids were made and these matched with images.

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Bulbophyllum exiguum

Bulbophyllum wenthalii

Dendrobium monophyllum

Dendrobium bigibbum

Dendrobium Jesmond Sparkler

Dendrobium Hilda Poxon

Plants Benched May 2011 1 photo‟s David Hirst

Dockrillia wassellii

Sarcochilus (Starstruck x Velvet)

Sarcochilus Velvet Chocolate

Diplodium truncatum

Diplodium doliochilum Diplodium ophioglossum Pterostylis x Toveyanana

Plants Benched May 2011 2 photo‟s David Hirst

Pterostylis x Toveyanana Diplodium laxum

Eriochilus cucullatus

Acianthus pusillus (green form)

Acianthus pusillus

Plants Benched May 2011 3 photo‟s David Hirst